November 24, 2024

ourlady

5 Ways to Bring Mary Into Your Life

Mother & Refuge04 mins

01) The Seven Sorrows of Mary Seven graces were promised through St. Bridget for the Seven Sorrows of Mary devotion. Reflect on each Christ-centered sorrow and say a Hail Mary for each one. The prophecy of Simeon The flight into Egypt The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross The Crucifixion The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross The burial of Jesus 02)  First Five Saturdays Our Lady told Sr. Lucia, one of the visionaries from Fatima, that she would assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who make the first Saturdays for five consecutive months by going to Confession within the month, receiving Holy Communion, reciting five decades of the Rosary, and keeping her company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary with the intention of making reparation for sins. 03) Daily Rosary In numerous apparitions, including at Lourdes and Fatima, the Blessed Mother asked us to pray the Rosary daily. Many saints and Catholic leaders have impressed upon us the power of the Rosary. It is centered on the life of Jesus in union with his Blessed Mother. Through St. Dominic, the Blessed Mother also made 15 promises to those who pray it daily, including “special protection and the greatest graces.” 04) Marian Consecration You can use this prayer and consider doing the Total Consecration as imparted to us through St. Louis de Montfort. Consecration to the Blessed Mother means that you trust her with your life and pledge a desire to do everything in union with her. You can also use 33 Days to Morning Glory to prepare. Since Mary is our mother, she knows our needs better than we; and since she is Queen of Heaven, she has immediate access to the infinite treasury of graces in the Kingdom of her Divine Son. Pope Pius XII said that the consecration “tends essentially to union with Jesus, under the guidance of Mary.” 05) Brown Scapular The Brown Scapular given to St. Simon Stock from Our Blessed Mother offers divine protection “from the fire of hell.” Source: NC Register

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Powerful Prayer for The Black Madonna of Poland – Our Lady of Czestochowa

Mother & Refuge32 mins

The Black Madonna is a painting of the Madonna and Christ Child which legend states was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is believed to have used a tabletop from a table built by the carpenter Jesus. It was while Luke was painting Mary that she told him about the events in the life of Jesus that he eventually used in his gospel. This same legend states that that when St. Helen went to Jerusalem to search for the true cross in 326 AD, she happened upon this portrait of Our Lady. She gave it to her son, Constantine, who had a shrine built to house it. In a critical battle with the Saracens, the portrait was displayed from the walls of Constantinople and the Saracens were subsequently routed. The portrait was credited with saving the city. The painting was eventually owned by Charlemagne who subsequently presented the painting to Prince Leo of Ruthenia (northwest Hungary).It remained at the royal palace in Ruthenia until an invasion occurred in the eleventh century. The king prayed to Our Lady to aid his small army and as a result of this prayer a darkness overcame the enemy troops who, in their confusion, began attacking one another. Ruthenia was saved as a result of this intervention by Our Lady. In the fourteenth century, it was transferred to the Mount of Light (Jasna Gora) in Poland in response to a request made in a dream of Prince Ladislaus of Opola.

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Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Hope

Mother & Refuge02 mins

‘O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before you with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fear and temptation of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death.  O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress. You are all-powerful with your Divine Son. He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart. Show yourself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not you?  Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God’s Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus.  But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession, my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life’s darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Saviour, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.’

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Comforting Our Sorrowful Mother| Prayer in Honour of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mother & Refuge02 mins

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying son. Look with a mother’s tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart.Present them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through the united efficacy of both obtain the granting of my petition. To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows.Holy Mary, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of your divine Son. Intercede for me and obtain for me from Jesus (mention the desired favour) if it be for His honour and glory and for my good. Amen

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Infallible Prayer to St. Joseph

Mother & Refuge01 mins

“Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him close in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen.”

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Will it be a Hungarian Pope?

Mother & Refuge24 mins

Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő – Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest – may be emerging as a front-runner to succeed Pope Francis. The canon law expert is fast becoming a contender to succeed the Holy Father as rumours mount about the latter’s health, even with a potential candidate from Asia emerging as a frontrunner as well. Filipino Cardinal Tagle would certainly align with the more liberal position taken by the current Pope. His appointment would also point to the changing demographics of the Church. A Hungarian Pope however would be enormously significant given the cultural Iron Curtain dividing a de-Christianised western Europe from a re-Christianising east. As John Gizzi – Chief Political Correspondent for Newsmax – recently pointed out, “talk of Erdő as a future Pope is nothing new.” Indeed, Cardinal Erdő was being talked about as early as 2013. But, as Gizzi wrote, one Vatican insider told Newsmax the current Pope “is not going to be around for long”, adding that “at the most, he will be there until December.” Meanwhile the source told Newsmax to closely “watch Cardinal Erdő … he is the one who [the College of Cardinals, who will elect the next Pope] are beginning to talk about.” So, who exactly is Cardinal Erdő? Cardinal Erdő is considered a traditionalist who respects the celebration of the Latin Mass. But Cardinal Erdő is also respected by liberals like the Holy Father, suggesting he could be a unifying force within the Church. Pope Francis has already appointed Cardinal Erdő as the “relator general” of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The Hungarian cardinal has also been vocal in his support for outreach to Orthodox Christians which may be significant given the huge numbers of Ukrainians currently in Hungary. But what Cardinal Erdő has said is perhaps less important than what his appointment would represent. Pope St. John Paul II was considered instrumental in the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe. The Polish Pope’s election helped spark the peaceful end of communism in his native country, with his visit in 1979 being a major turning point. While it would be wrong to characterise Cardinal Erdő as aligned directly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a man at the forefront of the culture clash within the EU, his past statements suggest some sympathies, while he is the leading Catholic in a country which is now 80 per cent Christian and very much on the conservative nationalist side of the great European cultural divide. Read More at Catholic Herald

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Ronaldo makes sign of the cross during soccer game in Iraq

Mother & Refuge02 mins

ristiano Ronaldo is a world-famous soccer player from Portugal who has won dozens of awards and trophies throughout his 31-year career. He has played for clubs in Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy. Earlier this year, he moved to Al-Nassr, a club from Saudi Arabia. In his last match, in the semifinals of the Arab Club Champions Cup, the player scored the goal that gave the club promotion to the finals of this Arab equivalent of the Champions League. After scoring the goal, the Portuguese player made the sign of the cross. This isn’t a surprise per se, because he declares himself a believer and has shared his faith more than once. There would be nothing spectacular about it, if it weren’t for the fact that he did it in Iraq. The Saudi Al-Nassr club he plays for was facing off against Iraq’s Al Shorta. According to Open Doors, an organization that deals with religious persecution, Iraq ranks 18th on the list of countries that persecute Christians. Although the pope’s visit to the country in 2021 was a positive development with lasting effects, problems continue. Moreover, Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo plays, ranks 13th on that list. Read more on Aleteia

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Reverence Revival

Mother & Refuge133 mins

Reverence Revival Where has Catholic reverence gone? Those born after 1970 may find this question puzzling. Do we not use holy water when we enter church? During Mass we sit, kneel, and stand when required. Everyone is very friendly to one another. It seems perfectly fine. For others from an earlier era, though, something is wanting: a standard lost over fifty years ago, leaving in its place a void. This standard inspired one to ponder to whom this house really belonged when in church. It compelled one to focus on the presence of Jesus Christ in the tabernacle. It allowed one’s heart, mind, and soul to prepare for the great mystery in which we were to participate: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What is this standard that used to be taken for granted, but is rarely observed today? It is Catholic reverence. Reverence Defined What is reverence? Merriam-Webster defines reverence as: “Honor or respect felt or shown: DEFERENCE especially profound adoring, awed respect.” Catholic reverence was well known because it was unique among faiths. Why did Catholics demonstrate such respect not just during Mass but in an empty church? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood.  This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection; a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet “in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” (CCC 1323) Reverence is based on Catholic belief in the Eucharist. The Catechism continues: The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.  For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” (CCC 1324) We were reverent because we believed in the perennial truth that the Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus Christ-body, blood, soul, and divinity-present in the tabernacle. The sanctuary lamp signifies His presence, as explained in the Roman Missal: “In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.” (Roman Missal 316) The late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, related that years ago there were many conversions because of the consistent reverence demonstrated by Catholics while in church. Only a conviction that one is in the presence of The Lord of the Universe could explain such unwavering respect. Our behavior and posture are clearly acts of faith, and signal to all the depths of our beliefs. Fading Devotion, Vanishing Reverence When did reverence vanish? It was incremental. As modernist ideas crept into the celebration of Mass during the last fifty years, reverence was chiseled away, one chip at a time.  Changes beginning with the Mass of Paul VI (Novus Ordo Missae) were, at first, in accord with the documents of Vatican II. As time passed, various unauthorized liturgical abuses occurred, communicating to the faithful that reverence was passé. This is not a criticism of the Novus Ordo. When properly celebrated, it is beautiful and uplifting. One need only view EWTN’s daily Mass with its attention to the sacred, the devotion of the celebrants, the use of the vernacular and Latin as authorized by Vatican II, and the outstanding choir and sacred music to see reverence on display. Modernist Masses, however, were irreverent at best, illicit at worst: clown Masses, rock Masses, mime Masses, all against the rubrics that trivialized the Sacred Mass. Such deviations have all but disappeared by now. The current Roman Missal (Missale Romanum) promulgated by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002, with the 2008 minor revisions of Pope Benedict XVI, incorporated numerous additional prayers, including those for recently canonized saints, plus the extended Vigil for Pentecost. (2023 LinkRM).1 Officially, the cleanup has been accomplished. In reality, reverence vanished, and the vacuum created by the course of experimentation was filled with irreverence and indifference; carelessness and comradery; disregard and disbelief. The sad reality is that baptized Catholics have lost faith: A Pew Research Center survey in 20192 reported that only one-third of U.S. Catholics believe in the Real Presence. Russell Shaw reported in The Catholic Thing3 that Sunday Mass attendance by American Catholics dropped from 54.9% in 1970 to 21.1% pre-pandemic, with the projection that it will bottom out soon to 12%. This and other shocking data contributed to the USCCB’s three-year Eucharistic Revival which began in 2022. While an inspired and necessary campaign, is it enough? Certainly, the Bishops gave great thought as to the reasons for the decline in belief and practice. Was the disappearance of reverence among them? Actions demonstrate our thoughts. Has there been an honest analysis of observable behavior during Mass today? Have current acceptable practices contributed to the decline of the Catholic Church in America today? In a civilized society, we treat those in authority respectfully: we are polite, dress appropriately, and are not rude by speaking out of turn. Why isn’t this observed in God’s house?  In fact, we should approach the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with a profound awe. For more than fifty years, good manners, respect, and common sense in church have vanished. Some behaviors can be ignored as minor annoyances, but others directly strike at the heart of Catholic teaching about the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Restoring Reverence How do we restore the reverence that we so deeply desire? What follows is a critical evaluation of several areas where we have lost our sense of the reverent. There are specific areas to address directly, and evaluation…

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Surely the most beautiful photo of the Lisbon World Youth Day 2023

Mother & Refuge01 mins

“Todos, todos, todos” (“Everyone, everyone, everyone”): This became the catchphrase of the Lisbon WYD, after Pope Francis’ first address to the young people gathered for his welcoming ceremony on August 3. A Church open to all, universal, calling everyone to follow Christ. And if ever there was a photo to symbolize this exhortation, it’s this one of a young Brazilian man with a disability being lifted at arm’s length by his friends in his wheelchair, so that he too can see the Pope on the day of the vigil, Saturday, August 5. Fr. Omar Sánchez Portillo, a priest known for his extensive solidarity work in Peru, shared the photo on his social networks. It quickly went viral because of the pure, profound joy it radiates. “For me, this photo reflects what the Church is all about: universality, joy, hope, and love,” he says. Images: Aleteia See more…

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Miracle at Fátima? World Youth Day pilgrim receives her sight after Communion at Mass!

Mother & Refuge15 mins

“I opened my eyes and I could see perfectly,” said Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim who said she miraculously recovered her sight after receiving the Eucharist at Fátima, Portugal, during a Mass there. This possible miracle has moved hearts and filled with hope all those who have been following the events at WYD, which brought together more than a million young people in the Portuguese capital last week. Jimena traveled to Lisbon from Madrid with a group from Opus Dei. During the days prior, relatives and acquaintances of the young woman organized a novena to pray to Our Lady of the Snows, whose feast day is commemorated Aug. 5, the same day she recovered her sight. For two and a half years, Jimena has suffered a loss of sight due to a myopia problem that left her with a 95% vision loss. On the morning of Aug. 5, when the Holy Father was also praying the rosary at the Fátima shrine, Jimena received what she herself describes as a “great gift” from the Virgin Mary. Not long after having recovered her sight, Jimena told the Spanish radio station COPE that she woke up that morning “as I have been getting up for two and a half years, seeing super blurry, very badly.” She explained that she had gone to Mass with her friends “because we are at WYD and after receiving Communion I began to cry a lot, because it was the last day of the novena and I wanted to be cured and I had very much asked God please [cure me].” “When I opened my eyes, I could see perfectly,” the young woman continued, “it was overwhelming; very many thanks must be given for the miracle, because I saw the altar, the tabernacle, my girlfriends were there, and I could see them perfectly.” In addition, she said that she was able to read the novena prayer that she was praying and that she still reads “quite well” — she hadn’t forgotten at all how to read. The young woman said she is “super happy” and thanked all those who were part of the prayer group. “This has been a test of faith; the Virgin has given me a great gift that I will not forget,” she said. In an Aug. 6 statement to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Cardinal Juan José Omella, the archbishop of Barcelona and president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, referred to the possible miracle as “a grace from God” during the press conference at the end of WYD held at Eduardo VII park in Lisbon.   The cardinal said he was able to speak with Jimena on a video call and that she explained what happened in a natural and unaffected manner. “The girl was very excited; she had been blind for a while and she had been learning the Braille method for two or three years,” he said. The prelate also noted that Jimena “had to read the prayer of thanksgiving at Mass that day with the Madrid group” and that, after receiving Communion, she was able to read it without any problem. The young woman also told the cardinal that they had been praying for “nine days asking the Virgin for her healing.” Read more…

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